Empirical Evidence suggests that the prevalence
of soil--‐transmitted helminth (STH) Infections in remote and poor rural areas is
still high among children, the most vulnerable to infection. There Is concern that
STH Infections may detrimentally affect children’s healthy development, including
their cognitive ability,nutritional status, and school performance. Medical Studies
have not yet identified the exact nature of the impact STH Infections have on children.
The Objective of this study is to examine the relationship between STH Infections
and developmental outcomes in 2,180 school--‐aged children in seven nationally--‐designated
poverty counties in rural China. We Conducted a large--‐scale survey in Guizhou
Province in southwest China In May, 2013. Overall, 42 Percent of elementary school--‐aged
children were infected with one or more of the three types of STH—Ascaris Lumbricoides(ascaris),Trichuris Trichuria(whipworm) And the
hookwormsAncylostoma
DuodenaleorNecator americanus. After Controlling
for socioeconomic status, we observed that children infected with one or more STHs
Have worse cognitive ability, worse nutritional status, and worse school performance
than their uninfected peers.